AUSTRALIA
The Tablet (UK)
Why I agitated for confessions in the Australian Anglican Church to no longer be bound by confidentiality
11 July 2014 by Garth Blake QC
While a court in the US has ordered a priest to reveal what a young girl told him in the confessional amid fears she may have told him she was being abused by a parishioner – which his diocese has stated he will not do – an Australian Anglican explains why he lobbied for his Church to make exceptions
Anglican clergy in Australia are no longer compelled to keep confessions of serious crimes confidential, following a decision made by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia last week.
Since 1989 clergy have been required by canon law to keep confessions confidential, except where the penitent consented to its disclosure. This decision amending canon law provides that a member of the clergy who hears the confession of a serious offence, including criminal offences involving child abuse or child exploitation material, does not have a duty to keep the confession confidential.
Confidentiality will only be required if the penitent has already reported the offence to the police and, where applicable, the Director of Professional Standards.
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